GRAMMY® FESTIVAL AT SEA: WOMEN WHO ROCK TO SET SAIL NOV. 4 – 8, 2014

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The Recording Academy^®
Will Partner with Themed Cruise
Company Sixthman to Produce Music Festival at Sea

 
ATLANTA (Feb. 19, 2014) — Hot on the heels of the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards^®, The Recording Academy^® (internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards) and marketing and travel company Sixthman are partnering to produce the first GRAMMY^® Music Festival at Sea, which will set sail Nov. 4 – 8, 2014, in conjunction with Norwegian Cruise Line, the official cruise line of The Recording Academy. Departing out of Miami on Norwegian Pearl, the GRAMMY^® Festival at Seawill offer guests the opportunity to celebrate GRAMMY-winning and/or -nominated women who rock, while sailing to Grand Bahama Island and Nassau. Joining guests at sea will be Shawn Colvin,Estelle, Skylar Grey, Emmylou Harris, Heart, and Indigo Girls, with more artists to be announced throughout 2014.
 
In addition to all of the activities and entertainment offered aboard the GRAMMY Festival at Sea, guests will take advantage of Norwegian Pearl's 13 bars and lounges, 19 dining experiences, outdoor pool, hot tubs, expansive spa and fitness center, and so much more. In addition, guests can test their strength on the outdoor rock climbing wall, bowl a few frames in the ship's bowling alley, or try their luck in the Pearl Club Casino. Norwegian Pearl features a wide range of stateroom categories to fit all lifestyles and budgets, from the perfectly appointed inside staterooms to luxurious penthouse suites in the Haven.
 
Pre-sale signups for the GRAMMY Festival at Sea: Women Who Rock will begin Feb. 19. Guests wishing to sail onboard this exciting event can reserve their spot for as little as $200 per person for an Interior or Oceanview, and $300 per person for a balcony or suite. This highly anticipated music experience goes on sale to the general public on Feb. 28. For additional information, please visitwww.grammyfestivalatsea.com.
 
About Sixthman 
Sixthman, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, creates festivals at sea designed to set the stage for moments that make life rock. Since 2001, they have been pioneering themed cruise experiences for bands, brands, and their fans and are proud to be celebrating their 11th year and the accomplishment of executing 56 full ship charters, hosting more than 110,000 guests for more than 500,000 days on vacations at sea with world-class artist and brand partners such as KISS, Kid Rock, John Mayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama, Train, 311, Zac Brown Band, Lyle Lovett, Barenaked Ladies, Sister Hazel, Turner Classic Movies, VH1, along with engaging festivals such as The Rock Boat and Cayamo. Inc.magazine recognized Sixthman as America’s fastest growing travel company and the 87th fastest growing company across all segments on the Inc. 500 List.
 
About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy,
 
education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visitwww.grammy.com.
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GIRLS, GUNS & GLORY PERFORM SOLD-OUT SHOWS FOR 'GOOD LUCK' BOSTON'S MOST AWARDED BAND HEADS TO AUSTIN FOR SXSW

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(BOSTON, Mass.) - Boston's most beloved and awarded band in recent memory, rootsy rockers Girls, Guns and Glory are in the midst of their much-talked about album release shows to celebrate and showcase their fifth album, the critically-acclaimed "Good Luck."

"The album release shows have been going great," says singer Ward Hayden. "We just sold out the Stone Mountain Arts Center in Maine and our Boston show at the Sinclair was packed. We're having such a good time. Our producer Eric 'Roscoe' Ambel even joined us onstage in Boston. It was pretty awesome to have him come rock with us. The crowd loved it too," says singer Ward Hayden.

            The press can't get enough of Girls, Guns and Glory either. The Boston Herald recently praised the band for their "memorable melodies and Sun Studio swagger" and singled out the track, "Centralia, PA" as "a great modern conservation anthem." The Boston Globe writes,"The perpetually poised for break-out Americana mainstays are in the midst of a national tour, and their fifth release shows why with its mix of wistful banjo-pining ballads like 'All the Way Up to Heaven' and the ripping, brassy bar-band bounce of 'Be Your Man.'"

The foursome, which also includes Paul Dilley on electric and upright bass and piano, Josh Kiggans on drums and percussion, and Chris Hersch on lead guitar and banjo, will take their rock and roll swagger to Austin, Texas for a handful of shows during the famed South by Southwest music conference in March. So far, there are two shows set for March 12: the OPA! Coffee and Wine Bar and G&S Lounge (at midnight), and one on March 15 for the 3rd Coast Party at Giddy Ups. Updates on more shows added in Austin will be announced soon.

             The recently released "Good Luck" (Lonesome Day Records)takes the band from their Americana roots to more of a '50s inspired collection of gritty rock songs that The Boston Music Spotlight calls "another gem" in the band's already impressive discography. As The Patriot Ledger puts it, what you get with Girls, Guns and Glory is "good old-fashioned musicianship and sturdy songwriting."

UberSession: Girls, Guns and Glory - "Built For Speed"

Girls, Guns and Glory tour dates:

Feb 21, Manchester, NH - The Shaskeen

Feb 22, Northampton, MA - The Parlor Room at Signature Sounds

Feb 25, Cambridge, MA - TT the Bear's

Feb 28, Claremont, NH - New Socials Bar & Grill

March 1, Franklin, MA - Circle Of Friends Coffeehouse

March 8, Faimouth, MA - Grumpy's Pub

March 12, Austin, TX - OPA! Coffee & Wine Bar

March 12, Austin, TX - G&S Lounge (at midnight)

March 15, Austin, TX - 3rd Coast Music NotSXSW Show at Giddy Ups

March 22, Waterford, CT - Eugene O'Neil Theater Center

March 28, Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts - "Good Luck" release show

April 3, Wilmington, DE - World Cafe Live at The Queen - "Good Luck" release show

April 4, Washington DC - Iota Club - "Good Luck" release show

April 5, Ashland, VA - Ashland Coffee and Tea - "Good Luck" release show

April 12, Blandford, MA - Mass Mayhem

April 25, Barto, PA - Landhaven B&B

April 27, Bellefonte, PA - The Gamble Mill

May 30, Easton, MD - Avalon Theater (Stoltz Listening Room)

May 31, Raleigh, NC - Southland Ballroom

June 1, Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel

Redstar Union presents Behind The Album with Steve Morse highlights - Girls, Guns and Glory

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SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK LAUNCHES 40TH ANNIVERSARY "FORTY & FIERCE" 2014 US TOUR

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February 13, 2014, New York, NY...SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, the venerable and  Grammy nominated a cappella ensemble who've built a legacy for merging an inimitable and distinct harmonic vocal blend with a veracious commitment to activism, social justice, equality and freedom has announced the launch of the SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK - 40TH ANNIVERSARY: FORTY & FIERCE 2014 year and kicked off their premiere show at  the Zellerbach Auditorium at UC Berkeley, CA.

The Berkeley performance kick-offs a West Coast run that also includes performances during Black History month at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, CA, 2/15,
 the Newmark Theater in Portland, 2/17, and The Triple Door in Seattle, WA, 2/18-19. The ensemble will finish up their initial run of dates with performances at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD on March 1 and as part of the popular Celebrity Series at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA on March 2.

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK has configured two different productions to honor and celebrate their 40th Anniversary throughout the year. The enhanced FORTY & FIERCE production (which is being presented at Zellerbach, Strathmore and Symphony Hall) is their most adventurous live performance presentation to date. It's their first fully scripted show with a storyline, which is helmed by noted Director/Choreographer Dianne McIntyre. The show fuses a video projected montage of archival images of the ensemble and poignant historical moments that are woven into a scrapbook and retrospective motif that will be synced to some of the musical segments. Throughout the show each member will also share their own intimate personal stories in dialogue and perform influential songs that have highlighted their incredible journey over the past four decades.

The show will feature Sweet Honey's core members Louise Robinson, Carol Maillard, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil and Shirley Childress (American Sign Interpreter) with special appearances by guest vocalist Navasha Daya, bassist Parker McAllister (acoustic upright and electric bass) and percussionist Samuel Turner. Musically, FORTY & FIERCE will rely on the depth of the ensemble's varied repertoire and newly arranged medleys and arrangements of some of their classics. Audiences will also be warmed up and treated to a special pre-show presentation entitled SHE-ROCKS 5 RADIO, that will comprise an audio compilation of their most revered songs. The program is hosted by DJ Merk (Epatha Merkerson) and produced by Louise Robinson and Jordon Maillard Ware.

The more intimate format SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK - 40TH ANNIVERSARY features the core group and guest bassist Parker McAllister and incorporates some of the storyline and staging elements of the larger production. However, it will not include the same audio visual and lighting components in intimate spaces such as the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, the Newmark Theater in Portland and The Triple Door in Seattle.

"We're extremely excited and feel blessed to have experienced and enjoyed such longevity, and we're very thankful to all our loyal fans who have stood by us all these years," stated Sweet Honey's Carol Maillard. "They have been the driving force that has  fueled all our artistic endeavors, and we're elated and happy to celebrate and share this special show with our fans and show them why we all feel "FORTY & FIERCE."

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK began creating its' adventurous and diverse mixture of blues, African, jazz, gospel and R & B music as a quartet in 1973. Formed by Dr. Bernice Reagon (who retired in 2004) the ensemble's patented sound was honed during a workshop at the D.C Black Repertory Theater Company in Washington, DC. Since that time, they have performed throughout the world, including South Africa, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, at many of the premiere venues in the United States, released 23 recordings, been featured in documentaries and amassed a distinguished list of honors, awards and accolades.

Last year they successfully launched their first ever fan based fundraising campaign with the Indie Gogo online platform. Funds derived from the campaign have been used to produce the FORTY & FIERCE show. Some of the supporters who made donations were awarded perks including being special guests of Sweet Honey at selected 40th Anniversary Shows. They also toured Europe and Australia, performed at  the National Memorial Service for the late Nelson Mandela presented at the National Cathedral in Washington DC and were recipients of distinguished awards by the Search for Common Ground Organization in DC and "The Keeper Of Flame" Award" presented at the national convention and Signature Gala of the Delta Sigma Theta Society in Washington, DC.

In 2012,  they performed at the unveiling ceremonies for the Martin Luther King monument on the National Mall. They also debuted their first ever orchestral collaboration, providing the lyrics for composer William Banfield’s “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” co-commissioned by  the National Symphony Orchestra (Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director) and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC; the Minnesota Orchestra, (Osmo Vänskä, Music Director); and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Millennium Park, Chicago, released a thought-provoking single and video, “Are We A Nation,” inspired by the controversial immigration law that was enacted in Arizona . The song captured a Gold Songwriter Award from the 27^th Mid-Atlantic Song Contest and was featured on an all-star compilation, “Bordersongs,” that raised money for the No More Deaths organization, which provides water and humanitarian aid along the Arizona/Mexico border. Their latest 2-CD set, “A Tribute – Live! Jazz at Lincoln Center,” pays homage to some of the great female African-American vocalists whose songs helped shape the group, including Abbey Lincoln, Odetta, Miriam Makeba, and Nina Simone.

For more information go to: www.sweethoneyintherock.org`

ArtistEcard’s Comprehensive Marketing Platform for Artists, Bands and DJs Receives Notable Interest for Mobile Builder Program At MIDEM Conference

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February 13, 2014 (Los Angeles, CA) Create/Publish/Engage/Monetize:  ArtistEcard’s slogan to musicians and artists is simply that: direct and to the point.  While the Internet and social media have evolved into free marketing tools for any brand, company or individual to take advantage of, there are a select few all-inclusive services that capitalize on user-friendly tools for creating an online presence and brand building catering to Artists, Bands & DJs.   

The music industry has constantly evolved and artists can no longer rely on album sales alone. Promoting oneself via an online presence is what is expected and needed in order to stay relevant.  Setting-up a new release, promoting tour dates or starting a campaign can be a daunting task if you do not have the necessary tools or budget.  ArtistEcard aims to change all that with a one-stop / one log in marketing platform for website and EPK development, fan engagement and acquisition, the creation of apps, distribution and an e-commerce solution.  All tools which are easy to utilize, with no HTML or coding skills required.  The service is free with upgrades starting at eight dollars per month. 

Artistecard tool features include;

   Music, bio, music, news, photos, videos, shows and contact info

   HTML5 website development

   Facebook, iPhone and Android apps

   Website & apps which are optimized for all mobile devices

   The ability to sell tickets directly to fans

   A domain and webhosting while offering established artists’ the ability to use existing domains

   Analytics and Search Engine Optimization

   The sales of digital, physical and virtual goods providing the credit card processing (accepting all types of currency) and the pick, pack and ship globally from their centralized warehouse

   Content and updates are dynamically pulled from the client console publishing across all platforms

   The site is available in multiple languages

   Video tutorials and online customer support

Artistecard Video Tutoria Of All Services:  http://bit.ly/1fkZh0J

Apps generated an estimated $26 billion in worldwide revenue in 2013, up 44% over 2012, according to Gartner.  ArtistEcard Mobile Builder provides clients with the ability to create their own stunning mobile apps for iOS and Android, optimized for mobile devices.  Once the user has created a profile, one simply clicks on the Mobile Builder, types in a name for the app with a description and upload an image and a logo. Clicking next, musicians and bands can choose from a number of players and colors and then designate iPhone/ Android or both for use.  Once saved, the ArtistEcard Developer account(s) submits the apps to iTunes and/or Google Play for approval. The menu for the apps include; music, bio, videos, photos, shows, news, e-commerce store and more with all content dynamically pulled from the client’s dashboard and pushed to the apps in real time.   Apps are included with the Pro Plan or available separately for $8 or 2 for $12.  More information and how to use Artistecard’s Mobile Builder can be found at http://bit.ly/1gwmLDI.

Catering to a highly targeted clientele, ArtistEcard is the ideal marketing platform for professional musicians, solo artists, bands, record labels, producers, engineers, managers, DJs, and students focusing on promotion, brand building and fan engagement.

The Company recently attended the MIDEM Conference held annually in Cannes, France where they held a series of successful meetings with digital aggregators, distributors and information technology services.  As a member of A2IM, the meetings were held in their exhibition space where the marketing platform was met with great enthusiasm. Numerous digital distributors from around the world showed a keen interest in the Mobile Builder for Apps with intentions of making them available to each respective client base.  Immediate future plans are to leverage these newfound relationships into curating additional formidable global marketing B 2 B strategic partnerships. 

About Artistecard:

Headquartered in Chicago, ArtistEcard is a comprehensive marketing platform providing the tools for Artists, Bands and DJs to create, publish, engage and monetize fans.  The powerful software platform includes a suite of tools including:  HTML5 and EPK builder; Facebook, mobile apps; integration of social media platforms; database management for direct-to-fan engagement; ecommerce store for physical, digital and virtual goods with centralized global fulfillment; world-wide digital distribution; enhanced analytics and support services.  The service is free and includes a domain and webhosting while offering established artists’ the ability to use existing domains. The site is available in multiple languages with upgrades starting at $8.00 per month.  ArtistEcard allows users to create all of these elements for themselves with no coding or website development skills required.   For more information, visit: www.artistecard.com